Filling machine



April 1952 J. STEWART ET AL 2,591,739

FILLING MACHINE Filed May 26, 1948 BSheets-Sheet 1 a, cmzamkifl w WM April 8, 1952 R. .1. STEWART ET AL 2,591,739 v FILLING MACHINE Filed May 2a, 1948 s Sheets-Sheet 2 awe/m5 u A fil8,1952 R. ,STEWART- ETAL 2,591,739

FILLING MACHINE Filed May 26, 1948 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 I g riiy 94 via fiaZerZ iii-award? 15:27:75 fiBeZZ April 8, 1952 R. J. STEWART ET AL FILLING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 26, 1948 RaZerZ e/ijiewari jfi'wizfiiflell, w ia w we wa -figs April 8, 1952 R. J. STEWART ET AL 2,591,739

, FILLING MACHINE Filed May 26, 1948 a Sheets-Sheet 5 ELL llllllllll WMQZQWWM R. J. STEWART ET AL FILLING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed May 26, 1948 a M ZWWM w m w 66v 3 im 2% F flaw w 4 E M v /w April 8, 1952 R. J. STEWART ET AL ,7

FILLING MACHINE Filed May 26, 1948 8 Sheets-Sheet '7 30582-2 filed/0r? flail/7 51 17 22,

April 8, 1952 R. J. STEWART ET AL FILLING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed. May 26, 1948 .IIIII F157. 55. 2% av 7 I 3 m: fiafieritljiezyari 173225 ,ZJfaZZ Iatented Apr. 8, 19 52 FILLING MACHINE Robert J. Stewart and Frank s. Bell, Baltimore,

Md., assignors to Crown Cork & Seal Company; Inc., Baltimore, Md., a corporation of New York Application May 26, 1948, Serial No. 29,235

13 Claims. i(Cl. 226-417) The present invention relates to filling ma chines. i

Heretofore, the raising and lowering movements of the container supporting platforms of filling machines have been controlled by engage- V ment of rollers carried by the platform structure with guideways and a cam. If a roller or the bushing associated therewith became worn, either the roller or bushing, or both, had to be entirely replaced.

An object of the invention is to provide improved arrangements for controlling the raising and lowering movements of the container supporting platforms of a filling machine.

The present invention includes the provision uponcontainer supporting platforms of elements provided with planar surfaces to engage opposed faces of either the guideways or a cam, or both. The use of blocks with planar surfaces arranged at the proper angles enables the moving parts to be controlled without the provision of bearings such as have been necessary where rollers are used to control the raising and lowering movements. The invention also includes the provision of blocks of such design that they can be adjusted to provide new surfaces for use after previously used surfaces become worn.

Another object of the invention is to .provide an improvedarrangement for lubricating the vertically movable parts of container supporting platforms.

It has been usual to journal the filling table and other rotary tables of a filling machine upon base pedestals by the use of ball or roller bearings. Such bearings arerelatively expensive, be-

cause they must support a substantial weight as well as a downward thrust'acting upon one peripheral portion of the table.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved means for journalling the rotary tables of filling machines.

'Ihe present invention involves the provision as a table journal of opposed annular metal rings positioned between the table and the pedestal and which rings are'of such design that their bearing surfaces may be adequately lubricated. The invention also contemplates resilient support for the rings to compensate or take up any tiltin thrust, such'as the downward thrust effective upon one peripheral portion of the filling table or the crowning table of the filling machine. In

more detailed aspect, the invention involves provision of a resilient and confined gasket'as a thrust take-up medium.

As is disclosed in Patent No. 2,145,765, for Filling Machine, issued January 31, 1939, on the application of George J. Huntley Stewart, beverage filling machines are usually provided with means whereby the counterpres sure trip will be rendered ineffective to operate the filling valve in the event that a container supporting platform does not have a container deliveredthereto.

As is disclosed in Patent No. 2,353,523, for Filling Machine, issued July 11, 1944, on the application of Robert J. Stewart and Harry J. Rever,

one manner of operating a counterpressure trip to non-valve actuating position'is by the useof an electromagnet which, when energized, will withdraw the trip from the path of movement of the valve arm. Under some circumstances, the

counterpressure trip may become momentarily seized against movement to non-actuating position. In order to prevent such seizure from damaging the electromagnet or solenoid, it has been usual to provide electrical overload protec- As is disclosed in Patent No. 2,367,899, for Method and Apparatus for Filling Carbonated Beverages, issued Januar-y 23, 1945, on an appli-' cation filed by Robert J. Stewart, it has heretofore been proposed to provide a snift valveof poppet type in the filling head of a beverage filling machine. V 7 a An object of the present invention is to provide a poppet valvesnift for a filling machine which is of extremely simple construction and of such design that the snifted gas will be directed inwardly of the filling table.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following specification and accompanying drawings, in which drawings,

Figure l is a vertical axial section through the I filling table and filling table pedestal of a fillings, machine, the view including a vertical axial secj tion of acontainer supporting platform. Figure 2 is a developed view taken on 'a. line corresponding to the line 2-2 of Figure l. The

container platforms of Figure 2 differ from those of Figure l in that they are adapted to be moved upwardly by fluid pressure. 7

Figure 3 is an enlarged view of the portion of Figure 1 indicated by the arrow designated}, but

and Robert J.

trip from damaging accuse with additional parts in axial section. Figure 3 is also a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2 but omitting the fluid supply means of the latter figure.

Figure 4 is a view looking toward Figure 3 from the right.

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 4.

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail'view showing the container supporting platform lubricating arrangement which is also shown on a smaller scale in the upper left-hand portion of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a horizontal section on the-line 8-8 of Figure '7. V

Figure 9 is an axial section showing the table journalling means of the present invention. Figure 9 shows the bearing ring of Figure 11 in diametrical section on the. line 9a of Figure 11, the bearing ring of Figure 13 in diametrical section on the line 9b of Figure 13, and the bearing holder of Figure 15 on the diametrical line 90.

Figure 10 is another section of the table journaling means, and taken on the angled line IOc-lflc of the Figure bearing holder.

Figure 11 is a plan View showing the bearing face ofone of the bearing rings of the invention.

Figure- 12 is a sectional view taken on the angled line 12-42 of Figure 11.

Figure 13 is a plan view of the bearing face of another bearing ring.

Figure 14 is a sectional view taken on the angled line I l-l4 of Figure 13.

Figure 15 is a plan view of the bearing holder.

Figure 16 is a sectional view on the angled line I3-I6 of Figure 15.

Figure: 17 is a sectional view on the angled line lf-Il of Figure 15.

Figure 18 is a vertical sectional view through a counterpressure trip mechanism and control means therefor, the view also including an elevation of a container supporting platform.

Figure 19 is a detail showing the-counterpressure trip in axial section.

Figure 20 is a view showing the counterpressure and filling trips of Figure 18 in plan.

Figure 21 is an axial section through a filling head with the sniftvalve in closed position. The valve body of Figure 21 is shown in section on thecline- 2l-2I of. Figure 23. The shift passage outlet, being out of section. is shown in dotted lines:

Figure 22 shows thesnift'valve of'Figure 21 in open position, and

Figure 23 is a rear view of the filling valve body and, more particularly, a view taken on the line 23-23 of Figure 21.

Referring to Figure 1, the numeral 30 designates the filling machine base, which includes a pedestal 32 for the filling table 34. A stationary table 36 is also secured to the base 35 in the usualmanner. It will be observed that the general arrangement of these elements is similar to that disclosed in the above-mentioned Huntley and Stewart Patent No. 2,145,765 and, as is the case in the machine of that patent, the base 38 of the present machine would also include suitable pedestals, not shown, for the crowning mechanism and any syruping mechanism.

The liquid to be flowed into the bottles, for

"supporting platforms 53.

post 62 fixed in the pedestal 32. The filling table 34 includes a depending central skirt 44, and the bearing structure of the present invention, generally designated by the numeral 46, serves to rotatably support the filling table upon the pedestal 32. At its periphery, the filling table 3Q is provided with bores or sockets formed by depending sleeves t8 and filling platforms 50 are vertically reciprocable in these sockets. The filling platforms illustrated in Figures 1 and 3 are adapted to be moved to the upward or filling position indicated at the ends of Figure 2 by the action of springs designated 52 in Figure 1 and as is referred to in the above-mentioned Huntley and Stewart patent. The filling platforms illustrated in Figure 2 are designed to be moved upwardly by fluid pressure in the manner referred to in Patent No. 2,202,033, for Filling Machine, issued May 28, 1940 on the application of Robert J. Stewart and 'Wiltie I. Gladfelter. Therefore, the filling platforms 5? of Figure 2 have a fluid pressure supply pipe 543 connected thereto to supply the fluid medium.

Referring now to the means of the present invention for controlling the vertical movement of container supporting platforms 5!! of both types, this mechanism is disclosed in Figures 1 to (3. As is best shown in Figures 1, 3 and 4, each container supporting platform 58 includes a relatively long tube 56 to the upper end of which the container supporting block or platform is secured.

The cylinder 55 is, reciprocable in a sleeve 68 secured in the bore of the sleeve 48 which is integral with the filling table. As best shown in Figure 6, at its lower end, each tube 56 has a member $2 secured thereon. Each member 62 includes a collar portion G l threaded upon the tube 56, and also includes a radially projecting pin portion 66. Pin portion 66 serves as a carrier for a cam engaging block 68 and a guideway engaging block i9. As shown in Figures 3 and 6, the pin portion $6 is of uniform diameter and fits into central apertures in the blocks 68 and it. A plate or washer l2 and a machine screw id serve to holdthe blocks in contact with each other and against a shoulder i6 at the inner end of the pin portion, the washer seating in a recess in the outermost and cam engaging block E58. The inner and unthreaded end of the machine screw "it extends into an aperture [8 in tube 55 to serve as a dowel pin. In order to further prevent member 62 from turning about cylinder 55, two other dowelpins '19 may be provided as shown in Figure 6. The two blocks 68 and H! are secured against relative turning movement by dowel pins 89 as indicated in Figures 4 and 5. As is hereinafter explained, the guideway engaging block iii of each container supporting platform will always be in engagement with bearing surfaces of vertical guide rods 82 depending from the filling table and secured together at their lower ends by ring elements 84. Thus, the guideway engaging blocks 10 will be held against any turning movement upon pin portion 66 and because the cam-engaging blocks E58 are secured to the blocks is, the blocks 68 also will be held against turning movement.

Referring to Figures 2 and 4, it will be observed that the gui'deway engaging blocks 10 are of square outline and that two opposite faces thereof engage the bearing surfaces of the guides 82. As a result, the blocks l6 guide the vertical raising and lowering movements of the container This motion of the platforms is further guided by the inner sleeves 86 secured in the ring 84. If the'surfaces of a block engaged with the guides 82 become worn so that play occurs, the block 19 can readily be removed and rotated 90 to position the other two surfaces of the block in guiding relationship with the guides 82. The provision of square blocks for this purpose is advantageous over the previous use. of rollers because the position of the blocks can be changed as described above when. wear occurs. Because ofthe large hearing surfaces provided by the faces of a block It, an efficient and true guiding action is obtained.

. Asis best shown in Figures 2 and 4, the camengaging blocks 68 may be described generally as square in outline but have their corners and certain surfaces thereof so inclined or bevelled as tobest co-act with the complementary surfaces of the cam 90 which controls the lowering and raising of the container supporting platforms 50. As is shown in Figures 1 and 2, the cam 99 is positioned on the base of the machine inwardly of the circular path of movement of the containersupporting platform cylinders 56 with filling table 34.

. In accordance with usual practice, successive container supporting platforms and their cylinders 56 will move from the left-hand end of Figure 2 and the downward incline 92 of cam 99, each platform then bearing a bottle or other container which hasbeen filled. The left-hand end 92 of the cam 90 will engage a surface 92a (Figure 4) on block 68 and which surface is on the leading side of the upper face 94 of the block 68. It will also be noted that surface 920, is adjacent the midway point of the surface 94. For example, surface 920. may be inclined downwardly from the horizontal by an angle of about'12". The surface 92 of cam 90 is inclined at a complementary angle. The surface 92 of cam 90 will thereby initiate the lowering movement of a container supporting platform 50.

Continued rotation of the filling table 34 will bring the cam-engaging block 68 of a platform adjacent the more steeply downwardly inclined surface 96 of cam 90 so that the more steeply will engage surface 99. Surface 96a would be inclined downwardly from the horizontal by an angle of approximately 30 and cam surface 96 would be inclined at a complementary angle.

The container supporting platform will be fur- 'to the right with respect to Figure 2, the upper central and horizontal surface 94 of a cam block 68 will move beneath-the surface 98 of cam 99, surface 98 being adwell and horizontal. While the block is in contact with this surface, the container supporting platform 59 will be held downwardly as indicated at the central portion of Figure 2' so that the filled bottle or container may be removed and an empty bottle placed on the platform in accordance with the usual practice. Then the cam block 58 will move upwardly along the rise I00 of cam 90, the rise being arranged, for example, at an angle of about 40 from the horizontal. The inclined surface Idta at the trailing end of the upper face of cam block 68 will engage cam surface I90, surface IDBa being inclined at a complementary anglef The container supporting platform will rise as the-surfaces 100 and 100a are in contact and before the block moves entirely out of engagement with the inclined surface 96a (Figure l) of cam block 68 cam, the outgoing surface I02 of cam 90 will be engaged by the block surface Ill2a provided between horizontal surface 94 and inclined surface IIIIIa. Surface I02a. is inclined downwardly from the horizontal by an angle of approximately 5 and surface I92 of the cam is arranged at a com face of block 68 shown lowermost is provided with surfaces 9%, 92b, 9422, I021) and IBM) identical in inclination with the surfaces of the upper face. It will also be noted that by removing the machine screw I4 and washer I2, disengaging the cam block from dowels 80, and then turning cam block 68 through 189, the surface shown lowermost in Figure 4 can be placed uppermost to engage the cam 99. Because the blocks 68 and i0 include large surface areas, unit loads are decreased. Hence, wear is reduced and minimized.

Referring to the lubrication arrangement disclosed in Figures 1, 7 and 8, it will be observed that this arrangement comprises the provision of an aperture II!) on the'inner portion of the bearing sleeve 69, i. e., the portion nearest the table axis. Aperture IE0 is positioned just below the lower end of the depending sleeve 48 of filling table 34. As is indicated in Figure 8, aperture I Ill is of sufficient extent circumferentiallyof the bearing 60 that lubricant jetted from two diverging nozzles diagrammatically shown by the arrows II2 (and one of which nozzles is shown in each of Figures 1 and '7) moves through the aperincluded in the present invention for journalling the filling table 34 upon the pedestal 32 of base 30, or to journal a crowning or syruping table. The journalling arrangement of the present invention may be generally described as involving the following: A neoprene orother resilient gasket I29 preferably closely fits a recess in a bearing holder I22 as shown in Figures 9 and 10, but which may fit in a recess I23 of the pedestal itself as shown in Figure 1. In any event, a ring I24 preferably formed of hardened stainless steel rests upon the gasket I20 and is doweled through the gasket to the pedestal or the bearing holder I22 by dowel pins such as indicated in Figure 9. A second ring I26, preferably formed ofphosphor bronze, is doweled to the lower and flat surface I28 of the filling table skirt 44 and rotates upon the lower and fixed ring I24.

The form of the bearing holder I22 is best shown in Figures 15 to 17, from which figures it a. recessed annular surface; concentric. with the pedestal and: which surface is designated I38; Thesefigures.alsoindicate how the bearing holder I2Z may be. doweled to the. pedestal asby pins I32. and also may be provided with lubricant: supply passages. I34 and I36 as shown. in Figure 10,. as well as drain passages. It will be notedthat; the. lubricant; passages respectively open: to the; surface. I39 or through the inner surface of wall I38 above surfaced-30. The outer and inneredges of. recess I35 are respectively defined by t-he walls, I38 and I39.

The. gasket I20, formed of neoprene or other resilient material, closely fits within therecess. which forms surface I 38 and may be of the order of 5% in thickness. When used in a filling table bearing, ring I will have; a. transverse width, of the; order of 1.75 inches and an overall diameter of'the-order of 10.5: inches. The rings I2 2' and I23 will be of similar widths and overall diameter when used with a filling table. All of the rings will be ofzsmaller transverse width and overall diameter when used to support a syruping or crowning table. The neoprene or other resilient ring I20 will have an elasticity rating of the. order of 80 to 85 when used with a filling table.

As is best shown in Figure 17, the resilient ring I20 will be held against turning movement by dowel pins such as indicated at. Mil which extend upwardly through the resilient ring from the bearing holder I22 and thence into the lower portion of the lower metal bearing ring I2 2.

The lower bearing ring IZ l is best illustrated in Figures 13' and i i and is shown in various sections in Figures 9 and 10. As is indicated in these views, the upper or bearing surface of ring I2 t has a groove I42 therein, which groove is arranged eccentrically of the ring and has a crosssectional width of the order of and a depth of approximately half the depth of the ring, which latter depth will approximate one-half an inch;

- Groove I42 is of such diameter and so positioned that at one point in its circumference, it will be closely adjacent the inner edge of ring I24, while the diametrically opposite portion of the groove will be closely adjacent the outer edge of the ring.

As best shown in Figures 10 and 14, an aperture I 44 extends from the lower surface of ring li tothe groove M2. The ring will be secured to the pedestal or bearing holder with aperture M4 in vertical alignment with the lubricant supply passage I34 of bearing holder I22. Because the resilient gasket I2?) is also apertured at this point, lubricant may be fiowed upwardly through the passage I34 to the groove I42.

The upper bearing ring E28 is somewhat thicker in axial section than ring iii. In addition, as is best shown in Figures 11 and 12, the lower and bearing surface of upper ring E is provided with a plurality of grooves Hi8, preferably three in number, which extend from the inner circumference or edge of the ring to its outer circumference. The grooves M8 are equidistantly spaced about the ring iii: and extend along lines parallel to tangential lines which contact the ring at equidistant points. Ring 226 is provided with apertures I56. into which dowel pins 5.52 extend as shown in Figure 9 to cause the ring to rotate with the filling table. As is best shown in Figure 10, the passage I of the bearing holder I22 opens through the wall I38 of the bearing holder recess at a point opposite the bearing surfaces of the rings I26 and I24 so that oil moving up through the passage I36 will enter the outer ends of the 75 those figures.

grooves I48 as they move, opposite the mouth of the passage.

As thefilling table is rotated by the usual driving system, not shown, the movement of the. grooves I48 of upper ring I26 withrespect to the. circular and eccentrically arranged groove I42 of lower ring I24 will cause oil or other lubricant:

to be swept across the, entire, bearing surface.

A filling table may have a diameter of from three to ten feet and as. the table rotates, a. downward thrust is directed upon successive points of its periphery adjacent the stationary table of the filling machines, this downward thrust. being occasioned by the downward pulling movement. exerted upon the bottle supporting platforms by the cam 90. Therefore, a filling table must be mounted in bearings which will resist this thrust. and thereby prevent the table from having a tilt-- ing or rocking motion. It has been found that the provision of fiat bearing rings such as those described above, with the lower ring mounted upon a resilient gasket supported in a completely and closely confined space such as the recessed surface I35 fully supplies the necessary bearing surface. Also, the resilient gasket permits the lower plate to remain in alignment with the upper plate, thereby distributing the load over all or most of the bearing surface.

As is described in the above-mentioned Huntley and Stewart patent, No. 2,145,765, and Stewart and Rever patent, No. 2,353,523, it: is usual to have the counter-pressure trip of a beverage filling machine so arranged that when a container supporting platform without a container thereon moves adjacent the. trip, the trip will be withdrawn from the path of movement. of the filling valve arm. Figures, 18 to 20 of the present draw-v ings disclose an improved arrangement. for this purpose. Figure 18. diagrammatically shows. the filling trip generally designated I59 mounted .within a housing, ItI carried upon a bracket I52 suitably secured to the stationary table. of the machine in the manner described in the above.- mentioned patents. The plunger I64, comprising the actual trip will be positioned in such a horizontal plane that with the filling; table, rotating inv the direction of the arrow of, Figure 20, and. a valve arm I65 of a filling head I68, in closed or non-flow position, trip I64 will strike lug I67 of the valve arm I66 and turn the latter to the dotted line position IGGa of Figure 18, viz., counterpressure position. When the arm is in position IBM, it will next be struck by the filling trip I!!! so as to be moved to filling; position. Obviously, if the counterpressure trip plunger I613 is withdrawn from the out-ward position shown in Figure 20 to the inward position shown in Figures 18 and 19, the lug IG'I of valve arm I6 6 will then move beneath the filling trip Ill) so that the valve will be left in closed position.

As is described in the. above-mentioned Stewart and Rever patent, the counterpressure trip de vice includes an electromagnet or solenoid, I12 which is normally deenergized. However, when a container supporting platform 5%) moves upwardly to the solid line position of Figure 18 because no bottle has been placed thereon to engage the filling head and thereby limit upward travel of the platform, the outer edge of the platform will brush against the upper end of the lever I74 so that a switch I15 will be closed to energize the solenoid I72. Energization of the solenoid I12 will cause the armature I13v to be drawn inwardly or, to the left in Figures 18 andv 19 to move the plunger I64 to the position shown in i 9 Plunger I84 is normally ur ed outwardly or to the right in Figures 18 and 19 by a spring I80 having, its inner end' bearing against the plunger housing I GI and its outer end bearing upon a collar I82 fixed to the plunger. Plunger I84includes a bore I84 having a collar I86 threaded in its rearward end. The outer end of armature I12 has a swivel connection through a pin I88 to a bracket I90. Bracket I90 is apertured to receive the outer end of a pin I92, the outer end of the pin having a washer I94 secured thereto which contacts with the inner surface of bracket I90. Pin I92 extends into the bore I84 of plunger I84 and a head I94 is provided at the outer end of the pin. A spring I 96 has its outer end bearing upon the inner surface of head I94 while its opposite, end bears upon the inner surface of the collar I88. The spring I96 thereby serves as a driving connection be:

- tween the armature I18 and the plunger E84.

By the plunger structure described above, when solenoid I12 is energized, armature I18 will be drawn to the left, imparting a corresponding movement to the pin I92 through. the swivel connection I88. Under normal conditions, spring I96 willthen act upon the collar I86 to draw the plunger I64 inwardly. However, should the plunger I64 be seized in housing I61 for some reason, so that it cannot be moved inwardly, spring I96 will be compressed. The provision of the spring I99 thereby prevents the solenoid I12 from being damaged by electrical overload in the event the plunger is seized and cannot move in- .wardly. The provision of the swivel connection I88 between armature I18 and plunger I64 minimizes the possibility of the plunger becoming seized in housing lfil. In other vwords, the plunger cannot become seized because of any lack of axial alignment thereof with the path of movement of the armature.

Figures 21 to 23 disclose a filling head I68 of the present invention. The filling head illustrated is of the general type disclosed in the above-mentioned Stewart Patent No. 2,367,899 in thatit includes a valve body 209 having its in- .ward or rearward face 202 held against a'fitting 204 secured to the periphery of the upper and reservoir carrying portion of the filling table.

As is indicated in Figure 23, the valve body 200 is provided with a gas passage 206 and a liquid passage 208 respectively connected to tubes (not.

shown) leading to the upper and lower portions, respectively, of the filling reservoir. sages open to ports, not shown, in the seat face 2 I of the valve body 200. The filling nozzle 2I2' depending from the filling head is provided with water and gas passages similar to those of the last-mentioned Stewart patent and which passages also open to the seat face 2I0 of the valve body. A disc valve element 2 i4 is rotatable upon the valve body seat face 210 to control countere of cap 226, plunger portion 2E8 is threaded to receive collars 22B and 230. Collar 228 is adapted to contact with the inner surface of cap 226 These pasportion of bore 2I-1.

to limit the outward movement of plunger; portion 2I8 while collar 230, is adjustable to' vary the contact of the plunger with the stemportion 220 of the snift valve. The outer end of thejstem portion 220 is recessed sothat a flange on collar tial width axially of the stem surrounds the stem adjacent its inner end. Upon the reduced portion thus provided-the stem is fitted with the valve element 222 including a, resilient gasket 2% which normally seats on the inner end of sleeve 2 I 6 as shown in Figure 21. It will be noted from Figure 21 that the valve element 222 is movable in a chamber 240 formedby -the innermost Spring 284 serves to ;hold the valve in the position illustrated in Figure 21.

A passage 242 communicates with the filling nozzle 2 I2 in the manner described in theabovementioned Stewart Patent No. 2,367,899 so that gases trapped in the upper portion of the bottle may fiow through passage 242 to the chamber 240. When trip 2 I 8 is moved inwardly by brushing contact with a snift striker 244 as indicated in Figure 21, valve'222 will be moved to the position shown in Figure 22. At that time, the trapped gas may move along the reduced stem portion 236 of the valve and thence through radial passages 246 (Figure 22) joined by a circumferential groove 248 in sleeve 2I6. A passage 250 provided in the valve body 200 has its inner end opposite the grooved portion 248 of sleeve 216. As a result, gas moving through the grooved portion 248 will enter passage 250. ,-A snift fitting 252 will-be secured in the outerportion of passage 250. As is indicated in Figure 21, passage 250 is so inclined in body 200 so that it extends rearwardly of thebody. As is shown in Figure 23, passage 250 also is inclinedlaterally. By the first-mentioned arrangement, the fitting 252 will be directed inwardly of the filling table, viz., toward the filling table axis, while bythe last-mentioned arrangement the fitting, will be laterally disposed with respect to the filling nozzle. The feature of having the snift fitting 252 directed toward the axis of the filling table prevents snifted gases and liquid from blowing toward an attendant. Also, any liquid and gases which may be snifted will be directed towardthe base of the machine, rather than upon the floor of the bottling plant. I

The terminology used in the specification is for the purpose of description and not of limitertion, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

We claim: I

1. In a filling machine, a base, a table rotatable on the base about a vertical axis, a container supporting platform carried by and vertically reciprocable with respect to the table, vertical guideways fixed to the table, means to urgethe platform in one vertical direction, a cam fixed to the base and positioned adjacent the pathof rotary travel of the platform with the table, said cam including a horizontal'face and faces inclined to the horizontal, and means carried by the platform and cooperating with the cam to move the platform in the opposite vertical di- .acemeo 11 section and comprising a block element having its {peripheryprovided with a series :of planar :surfaces respectively lying in planes corresponding to thosein which the cam faces'lie.

'2. A filling mac'hineo'f the character described in claim 1 wherein each block element is proadded with two series ofsaid surfaces, each surfaceo'f-one series lying at an angle of 1801to the corresponding surface of the other series.

3. In a filling machine, abase, a table rotatable on said base :about a vertical axis, a container supporting platform carriedby and vertically re- :ciprocable with respect to the tabla-a guideway fixed to the tableincluding twoopposed and ver- :tically extending surfaces, and anelement rotatably carried by the-platform between said surfaces and including a pair of vertically extending faces respectively adaptedto engage the sur :faces of the guideway,said element being provided with a second pair of similar faces lying at an angle to the first-mentioned 'pair of faces and adapted to be brought into engagement with said 'guideway surfaces upon rotation of said ele ment with respectto the platform.

4. In a filling machine, a base, a table rotatable on said base about a vertical axis, a container supporting platform carried by and vertically reciprocable with respect to the table, guide means fixed to the table including spaced and opposed verticalsurfaces, a pin projecting laterally from the platform between said surfaces, means to urge the platform in one vertical direction, a pair of block elements positioned on the'platform pin, one of the'block elements lying directly between the opposed surfaces of said guide means and the other lying in a second plane, and a cam fixed to the base and positioned in the path of travel of thelast-mentioned block element, said cam including a horizontal face and faces inclined to the horizontal, each 1 of said'blook elements including planar faces.

'5. In a filling machine, a base, a pedestal 011 said-base and including an annular and upwardly facing-area,atablerotatable on said pedestaLver- 'tiea-lly reciprocable container engaging elements mounted on said table, means fixed with respect to said base positioned at one point in the path of rotation of said table to move said elements vertically and thereby exert a vertical thrust upon said table including an annular and downwardly facing area, a pair of bearing rings respectively including horizontal and planar surfaces in opposed engagement, the rings being respectively secured to the areas of the pedestal and the table, and a resilient gasket confined Within the annular and upwardly facing area of the pedestal to support the bearing ring.

6. A filling machine of the character described in claim '5 wherein the bearing face of one of the rings is provided with a circumferential groove positioned eccentrically of the ring.

7. A filling machine of the character described in claim 5 wherein the bearing face of one of the rings is provided with a groove extending between the inner and outer peripheries of the ring, the innerand outer ends of the groove lying on a line substantially parallel to a line tangential of the ring.

8. In a filling machine, a base, a table rotatable on the base about a vertical axis, filling heads and vertically reciprocable container supporting platforms carried at the periphery of the filling table, the filling heads including valves rotatable about an axis radial of the table and valve operating arms projecting radially of the '12 axis of each valve, valve trip means carried by the ibase adjacent the periphery of the :fil-llng table, said trip :means including a plunger positioned in the :pathof movement of the valve operating .arms with the table, means .to move the plunger into the pathof travel of the valve arms, a second means to .move the plunge .in the DP- posite direction,tmeans to actuate the last-named means operable when no container is present upon a platform, and a resilien'telement operatively connecting the plunger and said second plunger operating means.

9. A-filling machine of the character described in claim 8 wherein said second'p'lunger operating means comprises a solenoid.

'10. A'filling machine of the character described in claim 8 inc'ludinga swivel connection'between th 'plunger and said second operating means.

11. The combination in a-fillin'g machine'having a reservoir for liquid and gas and rotatable about a vertical axis, of a fillinghead adjacent the reservoir periphery and including a valve body, the valve body having a horizontal bore therein opening to its seat face, the valve body having a series of passages therein for liquid and gas communicating with a reservoir and leading to the seat faced the valve body, a sleeve fixed in the valve bod-y bore and projecting outwardly from said face, a filling nozzle on the filling head and adapted to be positioned in a container, the valve body having a second series of passages therein leading from the seat face-of the valve body to the filling nozzle, a valve rotatably mounted upon said sleeve to engage said face of th valve body and having passages therein adapted, upon seriatim movements of the valve,

to bridge corresponding passages of the two series of passages in the valve body to permit gas to flow from th reservoir to the container, and to provide liquid fiow'from the reservoir to the container and simultaneously vent the container to the reservoir, the valve body including a. first snift passage extending 'from the filling nozzle to said bore and a second snift passage extending from said said sleeve to the exterior of the valve body and atmosphere, and a poppet valve including a stem movable in said sleeve to place the two last-mentioned passages in communication, the seat surface of said poppet valve being engageable with the inner end of said sleeve.

12. The combination defined in claim 11 wherein th snift passage opens to atmosphere in a direction facing the axis of rotation of the reservoir.

13. The combination defined in claim 11 wherein the poppet valve stem is axially recessed and the sleeve is radially ported to provide a flow passage between theinner end of the sleeve and the valve body snift passage.

ROBERT J. STEWART. FRANK S. BELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,544,862 Rogers July 7, 1925 1,840,934 Graig et al. Jan. 12,, 1932 2,145,765 Huntley et ,al. Jan. .21, 1939 2,202,033 Stewart et a1. May 28, 1940 2,256,041 Bell Sept. 16, 1941 2,353,523 Stewartet a1 July 11, 1944 2,367,899 Stewart Jan. 23. 1945 

